'96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overheating

Run a compression test. I bet you have a bad head gasket or head.

it could be as simple as youre thermostat needs changing

Is the fan working properly? Is the radiator flowing correctly? Does the rad cap hold the proper pressure?

if the 100 is centigrade then if the coolant is full I'd replace the thermostat.

lots of causes , is the anti freeze mixture right?? level good, could be a plugged rad, head gasket leak although not common on jeeps, or poor circulation of fluid, even a collapsing hose, and have the system pressure checked including the rad cap

Jennipherbrr,

1. Make sure the car is cold. Remove the radiator cap (press & turn about 1/4 turn to remove pressure in the system) Once the pressure is bled off you can remove cap and leave it rest on the filler opening.

2. Find the petcock on the radiator (the little valve attached to the radiator. You have to open/turn clockwise to drain the anti-freeze. Drain anti freeze below thermostat housing. About 1/2 to 1 gallon.

3. Have a catch basin for the anti freeze under the car. Remove upper radiator hose from radiator and thermostat housing.

4. Remove thermostat housing from engine block (usually two or three bolts in the thermostat housing). Scrap off ALL old gasket material from engine block. Double check and make sure all gasket material is removed from surface. If not the thermostat housing will leak.

5. Install new gasket with some high temp silicone. Place a couple of dabs on the thermostat housing and gasket (the silicone is used to keep the gasket in place) *MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL the thermostat the same way you took it out. Don't over tighten the thermostat housing bolts.

6. Remove the radiator cap and replace the anti freeze you removed (make sure the anti freeze is clean). Fill the radiator to the top of the filler neck and replace the radiator cap (push and turn the radiator cap to the right- like a pill bottle). Start the car and make sure the temperture guage goes up. The guage pointer should be in the middle of the guage.

7. Check the radiator reservoir for proper anti freeze level. DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP WHEN THE CAR IS HOT!!! THE ANTI FREEZE IS HOT AND WILL BURN YOU.

Hope this helps

check the fan

Engines get hot. You could change the oil, and install a lower temp thermostat. If the temp guage is working, then its not overheating

Your Jeep should have a 192 or 195 degree thermostat. Do u have to add coolant once in a while? If there is no coolant loss, no overheating problem, u shouldn't have to worry about it, it could be the temp. sending unit is not accurate. If it concerns u it would probably be worth it to remove the thermostat, check the temp rating on it(it should be stamped on it). Replace w/ a new one, and see what it indicates for temp then. Good luck, let me know what u find Curt

A 50/50 mix of an ethylene glycol based anti-freeze and water is recommended at all times.

The solution not only has a lower freezing point than water, it has a higher boiling point to prevent overheating.

Year round it acts as a rust preventative.

If you have A/C, it will prevent your heater core from freezing up.

Alcohol or methanol base coolants are specifically not recommended.

But to answer your question specifically:

To start, just water will work.

If this helped, please take a second and rate my response.

Mike